The Gustavus women’s tennis team opened its fall season today against a slew of Division I opponents at the 2011 Gopher Invitational held Sept. 16-18 on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Team’s competing in the tournament include the University of Minnesota, Bradley University, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Louisiana State University, University of Missouri, UW-Milwaukee, and the University of Wisconsin
Senior Emily Roediger (Rochester, Minn.) was the only Gustavus player to record a victory and advance to the winners side of the bracket on day one. Playing in the Augustus Singles Flight bracket, Roediger defeated Louisiana State’s Paige Bahnsen in straight sets 7-6 (4), 6-1 to advance. Roediger will take on Meredith McDonah of Bradley in the second round tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.
Also in the Augustus Flight, Megan Born (Antigo, Wis.) fell to Brittany Skemp 6-4, of UW-Milwaukee 4-6, 1-0 (10-6), Mallory Shellum (St. James, Minn.) was edged by Iowa State’s Chelsea Loprinzi 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (10-4), and Sophie Horton (Northfield, Ill.) lost to Jessie Bertino of Bradley 6-2, 6-4. Annie Mahoney (Duluth, Minn.) moved on to the second round by way of a bye and will face Jessie Bertino of Bradley at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.
Alex Erickson (Minnetonka, Minn.) competed in the McNabb Singles Flight, falling to Alexandra Clark of Missouri 6-0, 6-2. Laurel Krebsbach (North Oaks, Minn.) dropped her first collegiate match 6-2, 6-0 to Caroline Bauer 6-2, 6-0 of Wisconsin in the Love Singles Flight, and Megan Gaard (Edina, Minn.) was edged in a three-set match by Nicky Stracar of Wisconsin 6-3, 0-6, 1-0 (10-6) in the Mauer Singles Flight.
In the Gray Doubles Flight, Erickson and Born moved on to the third round after defeating Bradley’s McDonagh and Bertino 8-3. The pair received a bye into the second round. Also in the Gray bracket, Shellum and Mahoney lost to Ganser and Fritz of UW-Milwaukee 8-2 and Heather Annis (Maple River, Minn.) and Roediger fell to Pryzystawski and Wojtalik of Bradley 8-2.
Gaard and Krebsbach fell of Mizzou’s Mera and Christensen 8-4 in the Koivu Doubles Flight to round out the doubles competition for the Gusties.
The Gopher Invitational will continue tomorrow with consolation singles beginning at 9:00 a.m.